Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Benzylation of Azoles with Benzyl Carbonates

The direct aromatic Sp(2) C-H benzylation of azole compounds with benzyl carbonates proceeds efficiently In the presence of a Pd-2(dba)(3)/dppp catalyst system and NaOAc as a base to afford the corresponding diarylmethanes in good yields. In addition, the same palladium catalyst enables the direct benzylic Sp(3) C-H benzylation with the second benzyl carbonates without employing any external base.